Walter w



(No Model.)

' W. W. SCHULTZ.

001m PLANTER. N 0. 548,141.

' Patented Oct. 15, 1895'.

Witmema M, PHGTO-LITHQWASNIN GIBILILQ Nrrnn STATES PATENT Futon..-

\VALTER W. SCHULTZ, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,'ASSIGNOR TO THE WAYNE WORKS,OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 548,141, dated October15, 1895.

Application filed May 27, 1896. Serial No. 550,861. flip model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. SCHULTZ, residing at Richmond, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Corn-Plantors, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a rotating valve-shaft withsuitable mechanism for rotating the same intermittingly to operate thevalves and deposit the seed.

Another object of my invention is to provide suitable locking mechanismto securea positive stop of the shaft at the end of the step movement. I

Another object of my invention is to provide mechanism for accomplishingthe intermittent rotation of the valve-shaft so conv structed that thesame may be operated automatically by a check-rower.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide novel mechanism foroperating the valveshaft, whereby it may be operated either by hand orby the check-rower attachment at the will of the driver.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reciprocating valveattached to the heel of the shoe, which is operated intermittingly bythe rotation of the ralve-shaft.

The features of my invention will be more fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which.-

Figure l is a top plan view of my improvement in position for use withone of the seedboxes removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of thefeed-shoes and its valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation ofthe mechanism operated by the check-rower for rotating the shaft. Fig. 4is a sectional elevation of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism at one end ofthe shaft. Fig. 5 is a perspective plan view of one of the valve-levers.Fig. 6 is a plan view of the valve and valve-stem.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only the front or runner frameof an ordinary corn-planter, to which my improvements are applied.

In the preferred form of construction only one valve is employed in theseed shoe, which form is adopted for convenience of illustration. Arepresents one of the seed-shoes.

B represents the top face thereof, on which the seed-box is mounted.

a represents the seed-duct, which terminates'at b in the heel of theshoe.

0 represents a seeding-shaft, which is rotated to operate the seedingmechanism by the sprocket-chain O.

0 represents a tongue.

0 represents the droppers seat. D represents the seed-box. E E representthe checkrower device, which is mounted upon the cross-rail E Theseparts areof ordinary construction and any check-rower may be employedwith my improvements.

G representsa rotating valve-shaft, which is preferably affixed to thesleeve F. One end of the said sleeve is provided with a journal F, whichis supported in a bearing formed in the shank of the seed-tube. Upon thesleeve F are mounted ratchet-wheels H I,"prefe'rably cast integraltherewith.

J represents a pawl-lever journaled on the outer end of said sleeve F. jrepresents a pin for holding the same in position.

K represents a gravitating pawl pivoted upon the boss is of the lever J.Said pawl engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I.

L represents a connecting-rod pivoted to the pawl-lever J at one endandto the reciprocating arm M of the check-rower. When said arm M comesinto engagement with the knot of the check-wire, it is pulled backwardand moves the pawl K, which is in engagement with the ratchet-wheelIforward one step, rotating the shaft Gr. In order to prevent the shaft Gfrom moving too far, I provide a stop z on the bottom of the seed-box,against which the lug y of pawl K strikes and makes a positive stop tothe forward movement thereof. The spring M pulls said lever M back intoposition as soon as the knot has passed out of engagement with the forkthereof. This rotation of the shaft one step operates the valvemechanism, which is preferably constructed as follows:

N represents a valvedever, which is preferably forked and pivoted to theseed-tubes at u; but the heel of said valve is pivoted to the stem 0. Prepresents a valve preferably secured to said valve-stem by ascrew-thread, so as to allow the valve to be adjusted thereon. Therotation of said shaft G one step lifts the valve and allows the depositof one charge of seed. In order to lift the said valve-rod and at thesame time to stop the rotation of the shaft at the desired point, Iprovide the following devices:

H represents a ratchet-wheel, upon which one fork of the valve-lever Nrides. fork is provided with a tooth T, which engages with the notchesof the ratchet-wheel H, the

engagement of which as the wheel is rotated lifts the valve-lever, andas the space between that tube and the next. comes under the said toothit engages therewith and arrests the movement of the said shaft G,thereby securing a positive and intermittent movement of said shaft intime movements with t e operation a of the valve P. The mechanism ateachend' the sleeve F, before described. R nepresents a pawl mounteduponthe stud-shaft 7', which is secured to said pawl-lever. S representsaratchet-wheel affixed to the shaft G. The pawl-lever Q is constructedlike the pawl-lever J (shown in detail in Fig. l) and'is operated by theconnecting-rod as and hand-lever U, so that when said lever is operatedby the attendant on seat (3 the shaft G isoperated intermittingly ateach full stroke of the handlever. This construction allows theseedshaft to be rotated either by thecheck-rower or by the attendantwithout changing the parts.

I have shown the valve-lever N bifurcated and each arm provided with atooth T, so as to use this lever at each end of the machine, one beingthe duplicate of the other, avoiding the use of rights and lofts, sothat said parts are interchangeable. I prefer the reciprocating form ofvalves, which travel in ways formed in the heel of the seed-shoe, asthey are less likely to become clogged and filled up with .dirt, andthey keep clear better than the ordinary butterfly-valves; but thebutter-flyv alves might be used with the remaining features of myinvention. The way for this valve P is formed by lugs V on the heel ofthe seedshoe, through which a bolt is passed, which engages with theloop 'w of the valve and holds it in position and allows it to rise andfall when operated by the valve-lever.

Several important advantages are obtained by the use of my improvementherein. The

This it dropping mechanism is positive in its operation. By this form ofconstruction I do away with any spring connections for closing thevalves. The rotating form of mechanism employed is more durable as wellas more positive than other mechanisms hitherto used. Eitherthecheck-roweror the hand-lever may be employed to operate the droppingmechanism without changing any of the parts. The seeder can be instantlyconverted into a drill by removing the valve and the check-rower devicesmay he allowed to remain on the planter without any change whatever. Thevalve P may be used by adjusting it to the valve-stem, so as to allowthe end of the valve to engage in its lowest position with the lowerwall of the seed-.ducta', The parts arecheaply made and interchangeable.olne with the other and require but little fitting.

The parts can be madestrongand hence the mechanism is durable as well aspositive and convenient.

I laim 1. In acorn planter, the combination with the rotaryshaft .G andmechanism for .oper .ating the same intermittingly, of a ratchet wheelmounted on said shaft, and a pawl lever N pivoted at .one end andconnected at its other end witha valve controlling theseed tube, andprovided with a tooth which engages said ratchet wheel to operate saidvalve,,substantially as described.

2. In a corn planter, the combination with a rotary shaft G, of a sleeveF secured thereto and journaled in seed tubes, the ratchet wheels H, I,arrangedon saidsleeve, and pawl mechanisms operated by said ratchets,oneof said pawl mechanisms operating to intermittingly actuate the saidshaft, and the other pawl mechanism operating to actuate the seeddropping mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In combination witha rotary valve shaf G of a corn planter thesleeveF journaled in seed tubes and armed with ratchets 1-1, I, and pawl leverJ, and pawl K operated in engagement with the ratchet I, the valve leverN provided with the tooth T engaging with the teeth of said ratchet,substantiallyas specified.

4. In combination with the valve lever N and means for operating thesame by the 1:0- tation of the valve shaft carrying the ratchet, of avalve rod pivoted to the rear end of said valve lever and operating thevalve in the heel of the seed shoe, substantially as specitied. a

.5. In a corn planter in combination with the rotary valveshaft G, theratchet wheel 11, the valve lever N, provided with tooth T engaging withthe teeth of said ratchet, the valve stem and valve P reciprocating inthe said orifice at the heel of the planter, substantially as specified.

6. In a corn planter in combination with the seed tubes, and valves insaid seed tubes,

connected to and operating a valve in the seed tube by the step travelof said shaft, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER W. SCHULTZ.

Witnesses: I HENRY HARTZLER, E. B. OLEMENTS.

